Mercedes-Benz redefines the ‘compact luxury’ segment all over again, drives in the dynamic and sporty new A-Class

India’s largest luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz today drove in the all new A-Class, redefining the ‘compact luxury’ segment which it pioneered in India. The new A-Class carries Mercedes-Benz’s famed design philosophy of sensuous clarity and exudes modern luxury. It sets new benchmark in the compact luxury segment with enhanced comfort, sportiness, safety and efficiency levels. The new A-Class which marks Mercedes-Benz’s fulfilling the commitment of launching 15 new products in 2015, was launched by Roland Folger, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India in Mumbai, today.

Roland Folger, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India commented, “We couldn’t have concluded the product offensive of 2015 with a better product. As the most progressive model in the compact luxury segment, the A-Class has been instrumental in making Mercedes-Benz brand more youthful. The A-Class pioneered ‘compact luxury’ in India and with the new A-Class we have just raised the benchmark even higher. We are confident that the new A-Class will continue to remain on top of customers’ preference as it offers an unmatched package comprising dynamic sporty design, high grade selections of equipment, class leading performance, world-class infotainment system and uncompromised safety features. We made the A-Class even more appealing and ready for our dynamic new generation customers.”

Roland Folger further added, “With the launch of the new A-Class, we reiterate our promise of bringing the most fascinating cars from our global portfolio for our valued customers in India. The product offensive of Mercedes-Benz in 2015 with the ’15 in 15’ approach has been highly successful and is bearing fruit, as is visible with our sustained growth momentum. We are confident that the addition of the new A-Class will further strengthen our New Generation Cars portfolio and will continue our conquest of new customer base.”

Exterior design: Striking lines, dynamically curved surfaces and coupé-like window lines characterize the new exterior of the A-Class, following the design philosophy of sensuous clarity. The young and progressive design of the A-Class is now further emphasized with a sporty-dynamic orientation. The new-generation A-Class looks wider due to the tailpipe trim integrated into the bumper. In the rear area, the new lighting design emphasizes the vehicle’s belonging to the Mercedes-Benz family and the new Elbaite green metallic paint shade, underlines the fresh design elements.

Interior design: The new A-Class’ high-quality interior has been upgraded with plenty of attention to detail which enhances its sporty look and feel. Contours, surface finishes and materials combine to create a harmonious whole, which delights both the eye and the sense of touch. The new A-Class is equipped with a Leather wrapped multifunction steering wheel featuring a 3-spoke design with 12 function buttons as well as a shift lever in leather. The 12 ergonomic function keys on the left of the multifunction steering wheel in leather operate the display menus in the instrument cluster. On the right, the driver can control the volume of audio devices, telephone and navigation system. The instrument cluster is now equipped with a multifunction colour display for a visually enhanced, clear presentation. The new fine scale graduation on the speedometer and rev counter is a sign of high-precision instrumentation.

Performance:

The A-Class features an efficient 1.6 litre 4 cylinder petrol engine which produces 90kW (122hp) of power at @5000 rpm and 200 Nm of torque @ 1250-4000 rpm. The 2.2 litre 4-cylinder diesel mill produces a power of 100kW (136hp) @3200-4000 rpm and 300 Nm of torque @1400-3000 rpm. The performance of the new A-Class exhilarates with a top speed of 210 km/h for the A 200 CDI and a sprint time from rest to 100 km/h of 8.6 seconds for the A 180.

DYNAMIC SELECT

A comfortable, sporty, efficient or completely individual vehicle setting can be actioned using the DYNAMIC SELECT switch in the upper control panel. Parameters such as the characteristics of the engine, transmission, steering and suspension are altered depending on the selected transmission mode. The four driving modes in the new A-Class are “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Eco” and “Individual”.

7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission (7G-DCT)

The dual clutch transmission combines the comfort of a 7-speed automatic transmission with the driving dynamics of a manual transmission. When changing gear with manual transmissions, the tractive power driving the vehicle is interrupted. In contrast, the 7G-DCT consists of two sub-transmissions, one of which transfers the tractive power to the wheels while the other is preselecting the next gear. This leads to fast, smooth gear changing without any interruptions in tractive power and results in improved acceleration.

Safety and assistance features:

With numerous safety features and driving assistance systems, the new A-Class provides the driver comprehensive support and protection. The assistance systems, which fuse data from various sensor technologies as part of the ‘Intelligent Drive’ concept, significantly enhance safety and comfort. Class leading safety features including 6 airbags, ESP, ASR (Acceleration Skid Control), ABS, Brake Assist System, Attention Assist, Hill Start Assist, Adaptive Brake Lights Flashing, makes the new A-Class one of the safest cars on Indian roads.

Mercedes-Benz Apps:

Mercedes-Benz India now introduces the Mercedes-Benz Apps, for its entire New Generation Car portfolio, taking connectivity to a whole new level. Mercedes-Benz Apps provides convenient access to a wide range of some of the most popular apps and services on the internet. Mercedes-Benz Apps provide internet connectivity through apps like Tunein Radio, Weather, Mercedes-Benz Radio, RSS Newsfeeds HRS Hotel search, News and Morningstar® finance. The Mercedes-Benz apps with cloud-based platform allows updates to be added automatically, wirelessly, over-the-air. To secure a safer drive by avoiding driver distraction, certain app features are unavailable while the vehicle is in motion.

Available Exterior Colors:

The new A-Class will be available in an exclusive ‘Elbaite Green’ colour in addition to attractive colour options like Cirrus White, Jupiter Red, Cosmos Black and Polar Silver.

Prices:

The new A 180 Sport will be available at a price of Rs. 24.95 lakh ex-showroom Mumbai and the new A 200 d Sport will be available at a price of Rs. 25.95 lakh ex-showroom Mumbai.